THE WHITE-LINK DAR'I 



207 



on the Firth of Forth, Kincardine, and Aberdeen coasts, and 

 also in the Hebrides, Orkney, and Shetland Isles ; and on very 

 many parts of the coast of Ireland. 



fiiyj^^^ The Garden Dart {A gratis {Euxoa) nigricans). 



*'^ — 'i'liis moth is typically sooty or blackish brown in both sexes 

 (Plates 106, Figs. 5^, 6$), but varies to pale brown, or 

 through various shades of red brown. The markings, usually 

 obscure, occasionally are well defined, and sometimes there are 

 additional black spots and pale streaks. The caterpillar is pale 

 or dark ochreous brown on the back, inclining to greenish on 

 the sides ; lines greenish grey, edged with black, and a double 

 whitish one low down on the sides. It feeds from September 

 to June, on clover, plantain, dock, and various other low plants ; 

 and also cow-parsnip and other umbelliferse. The moth flies in 

 July and August, and is to be found in most English counties, 

 but perhaps most commonly in the eastern. In Scotland it 

 ranges to Moray, and seems to be generally distributed in 

 Ireland. 



The White-line Dart (Agra f is (Euxoa) iritici). 



This is another exceedingly variable species. The ground 

 colour of the fore wings ranges from pale whitish or ochreous 

 brown, through various tints of greyish and red brown, up to 

 black or sooty brown ; variation in markings is somewhat 

 similar to that referred to in A. CKrsoria. Three forms are shown 

 on Plate 106, Figs. 7, 8, and 11 ; the latter represents a 

 specimen closely approaching yi. obelisca. Var. aqiiilina (Figs. 

 9 and 10), the English name of which is the Streaked Dart, is 

 larger than the type, and the wings, consequently, are broader ; 

 by some entomologists it is considered to be a distinct species. 



The caterpillar is obscure greyish or brownish, with a dark- 

 edged pale line along the middle of the back, and a dusky line 



